Pepper Sisters

Pepper Sisters has been our Bellingham anchor restaurant for some time (we had a lover’s fight here, broken dinnerware, and so on). We ordered take away recently and found the pulled pork stew without sauce, and one chili relleno without a chili. On calling back to complain, we were given a credit toward two meals, which we used tonight. Our order was the Blue Plate Special and the Pinky Blue, both chicken and toriilla dishes with sides of cabbage salad, pinto beans, and posole and rice, respectively… Ready in 20 minutes, both meals were outstanding in flavor, doneness, presentation, and heat. Again, for take-​away, these last two points set things beyond right. We were so pleased at both the offer to make up for the previous poor meal and the turnaround that I’m here writing a Unilocal review. Frankly, Pepper Sisters has plenty of new restaurant competition right on State Street to contend with, and they have sunk money into the funky digs to update the dining experience. In my view, the freshness of the food and laid back service trump what you might find at an uptight, fast lane somewhere different. It’s affordable and friendly. And reviewers, no one is forcing you to eat the chips or sopapillas, though the salsa is fine and the honey butter works wonders on that fried bread.

WORST. FOOD/​SERVICE. EVER! You would better to throw your money away than eat at Pepper Sisters. This is NOT MEXICAN FOOD. It is more of an extremely sad version of TexMex, minus the flavor. I lived right next to Pepper Sisters for years and tried it multiple times to see why people love it so much. The service is super slow. The last time we were there, our server was an older lady. She couldn’t care less about even getting our order. I had to furiously wave her down after 20 minutes of waiting… and it wasnt even busy. I really think this it is for people who dont care about flavor as long as their food is healthy. If you have never eaten at a good mexican restaraunt and have no idea what mexican food tastes like, than maybe, JUST MAYBE, Pepper Sisters is the place for you.
Oh and by the way, they charge you for SHARING your food. They already have the most expensive prices in Whatcom County. They charge for sharing your food!!! Oh and the chips and salsa are ONLY free if you pay with cash. So have fun with all the ridiculous rules and overpriced food. You’ve been warned. Go anywhere else!!!

I’m surprised that the Pepper Sisters doesn’t get better reviews. We came here in July after being interested in it for a while (I’m from Colorado and love New Mexican food). I think I got the enchiladas Christmas (with green and red chili). There were some things that sounded kind of weird and not very New Mexican about it (more like a hippy version of New Mexico food), so I was a little worried, but it turned out to be great. The food doesn’t taste exactly the way I expect New Mexican style cuisine to taste, but it was still very good and in the spirit of New Mexico. Give it a try! I have to minus a star because they don’t have margaritas!

This is one of our regular stops when we want to eat out. Excellent friendly service & great healthy food.

Rent out some extra room in your belly for the loads of delicious food you’re gonna get!
When I walk away from a restaurant knowing in my heart that I could never make what they made at home, I know it’s a good spot. This is totally true for the Pepper Sisters. It’s food I’ve never seen or tasted before and it makes my whole body smile.
I’ve both gotten take-​out and ordered in from the Pepper Sisters and have been so pleased with the food. Things do take some time, but it’s worth the wait. Our waitress was really sweet and attentive, like a cross between a librarian and a massage therapist (for the soul), but not rushed. This only contributed to the happy atmosphere.

Last night was our first visit in over a year. We always liked this place, just up for what’s new in town.
Our server was great. Super responsive very attentive and good follow up. Apps came fast (chips n salsa and eggplant quesadilla) and were a great start.
My dish (Carne Adovado) was spicy per the menu’s notation but could have used a tad more subtlety in other flavors. Two at my table ordered the specials and were very happy, the fourth a GF dish that served her well.
We’ll be back. Thanks!

The food was delicious and they have a great menu. Service started very well but was pretty disappointing by the end, it took us a very long time to have our plates cleared and pay our bill.

Great food but have only encountered rude servers and mediocre service here. Beginning to wonder if the food is worth it.

My favorite time of year to go to the pepper sisters is on a slower weekday night in the summer and sit on the patio. It’s just fun to linger with my dinner, drink some beer, and watch the other diners.
Everything that I’ve eaten has been solid, tasty, and what I expected. The servers are always quick to suggest something or make modifications when asked. They’re specials are great. For the limited amount of taps they have, their beer list is great.
I think for the decade I’ve been going to this restaurant, there’s always a solid crew of the same servers and cooks. I like recognizing my server, and I think it speaks highly of the restaurant if they have little turnover.
The patio is a bit cramped on tables, so if it’s full and you don’t like a loud atmosphere, I don’t think you’ll enjoy your meal.

Really good food and very friendly staff. The Lounge is awesome. The lack of an extra star is only because its a little pricey for what you get.

Great, authentic Southwestern food. The staff were friendly and helpful, but also gave you lots of space. Lots to choose from on the menu and everything we had was really tasty. We’ll be back.

My favorite dish here is the blue corn rellenos, very cheesy and lots of flavor. Sangria is an excellent match with this meal. Some of the other dishes seem kind of bland, not enough cheese, but that is just me. Homemade desserts are almost always excellent.

This place is great. I’m not a huge southwest style fan, but coming to this place is always a treat. Their Sangria is to die for, and I can’t come here without having at least a basket of sopapillas all to myself! I will definitely continue to come to this place.

Our local friend took us here. Without reservations we would have had a 45 minute wait for an inside table but one of the servers said we could risk sitting outside as the sky clouded over. So we got the only outdoor seating under a heating unit, which heated us up just fine.
Food was outstanding – I had the vegetarian special: stuffed pepper with perfectly cooked vegetables, primarily marinated mushrooms, with a nice bulgur pilaf and plentiful green salad. The others had salmon with a savory blueberry sauce, excellent black beans and choice of cheesy grits or rice. Flan for dessert – excellente!

Have heard people talk about this place so I decided to give it a try and see what the hype was about. Not impressed sadly even though I wanted to like it. My favorite part was the sopapilla with honey butter so I’m basing my 3 stars on that. The rest was rather blah — I had the quesadilla which was slathered in green and red sauce — so much so that you couldn’t even tell what else you were tasting. Came with refried beans which were good and hominy — which was funky and not in a good way. When you have to ask the server what the $&@: it is you are eating, you know you are in trouble LOL. Heartburn, which I don’t get easily, ensued the moment I left the place. Found it interesting that they give you chips and salsa free if you pay your bill in cash. Ok but… most Mexican or similar themes restaurants give that to you free anyway regardless of how you pay, so… not sure I will return here anytime soon.

I’m a lifetime Bellinghammer. I first ate at Pepper Sisters over 20 years ago. I remember my experience as non-​overwhelming, and found no reason to revisit the restaurant since then, given the plethora of interesting eateries in our wonderful town.
A group of my wife’s friends had planned a meet-​up at the Sisters last night, and I thought sure, why not give them another chance? They’ve been around for so long, I may have just hit them on an off night, lo those many decades ago? Let me just say, I am baffled as to how they have kept the doors open this long, based on last night’s experience.
I split the pork burrito with my wife. It was just as meh as the dish that I had eaten in the 90’s. .. bland, uninspired, and covered in a runny green sauce that had the flavor of cilantro water. If Dennys suddenly decided to add Southwest to their menu, it would surely be more inspiring than what I was presented with. Add in a side of flavorless beans (two kinds, each as boring as the other), and a green salad that could have been re-​created if you gave me five seconds and a pair of tongs at the Old Country Buffet, and you’ve got a pretty good idea of my plate.
Our ‘Sangria’ (quotes intended) rivaled our food for boredom and sheer lack of creativity. If you took a bottle of two-​buck-​Chuck, added ice, and tossed in a handful of carelessly sliced fruit, I’d roll my eyes, and reluctantly pony up five bucks for that beverage. But 26 dollars? For this totally malevolent mishmash of mixology? Truly, TRULY, one of the most disappointing and overpriced libations that I have ever experienced.
Would that my dining dollars had only consisted of lousy, uninspired food and the Chuck-​gria, I would most likely not be taking the time to write this review. But amazingly, things went downhill from there.
We had seven people at our table. In this age of plastic payment options, wouldn’t it just make sense that I might not be the sugar daddy of the table, or that some of the guests might NOT be paying with cash, and that separate checks might be a reasonable assumption for a waitperson to make? Nope, not at the Sisters.
After tacking on an 18% gratuity, that, trust me, FAR exceeded the amount that I had slated for the level of service and quality of food that I received, our waitperson, now turned cashier, became verbally abusive when we asked if our party could split the check. We were berated for not having advised while ordering that we did not want to pay in a single lump sum. She proceeded to chide each guest individually for our inconsiderate nature, in not havig specified separate checks, and to tell us that she just didn’t have time for ‘this’ (I assume by ‘this’, she meant customer service).
The kicker? As one of the members of our group was in the women’s bathroom, the cook exited the bathroom stall and made direct eye contact with her, before heading back to the kitchen, conspicuously skipping that bothersome hand-​washing step. uly the cherry on the sundae of our Pepper Sisters visit.
While the wait/​cashier made it abundantly clear that it would not bother her if this was our group’s last visit, she need not worry about my patronage in the future. I will draw my final breath upon this planet before I would ever visit Pepper Sisters again.

Oh yum. The mashed potatoes rellenos are to die for. Portions are perfect and come with rice, beans and salad. Lots of veg options on the menu.
Love the ambiance– bright funky wall colors and you can’t help but feel cheerful. Reminds me of my favorite place Santa Fe for Southwestern fare– The Shed.
Great beer/​ciders on tap.
Service is friendly (but a bit slow– took a while to be noticed/​take our order– but it was a Friday evening). *Chips and salsa are extra if not paying with cash.

Highly recommend this restaurant. The food is fresh, flavorful, abundant and great. I want to try everything! Spicy means spicy here… Thank god. Service is equally as wonderful. I can’t wait to diner here again!

After reading the review of Katy H My buddy and she raved about the pepper sisters and I have to tell you I was glad that I followed her review because this place is the bomb. At first I thought when I was looking at the menu that this was a healthy version of Mexican food and then after I got what I ordered the burrito I can tell you that it was upscale healthy and I will order that again what a great find

Had to try yet another B’ham eatery. Limited hours of operation, but worth sliding on in.
As is typical of most local joints, singles such as myself are often given «special seating» (any obscure seating area most normal human beings would decline) and as such this Bellingham tradition was continued. However, my seating at the «Catbird» table allowed me clear viewing of patrons and the kitchen (funny, are singles always seated with a view of the dish room?).
The menu selection was acceptable and I found the descriptors accurately portrayed my meal (Blue Plate thingies). Excellent salad, enchiladas pleasant (though a little under sauced) beans were good.
All in all, one of the better dining experiences I have had here in the ‘Hamster.
One note though, hard walled former retail locations translate into very, very noisy restaurants.
Go, eat, enjoy. Is good!